Pope Francis has ruled out the ordination of women, saying the "last word" on the question was delivered by St. John Paul II and that no changes are foreseen.
Francis was asked en route home Tuesday from Sweden, where the Lutheran church is headed by a woman, if the Catholic Church might ordain women priests.
"The last word was clear and was given by St. John Paul II and this remains. This remains," he said.
John Paul ruled out female ordination in his 1994 apostolic letter "Priestly Ordination." In the document, he declared that "the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful."
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Pope Francis has ruled out the ordination of women, saying the "last word" on the question was delivered by St. John Paul II and that no changes are foreseen.

Francis was asked en route home Tuesday from Sweden, where the Lutheran church is headed by a woman, if the Catholic Church might ordain women priests.

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"The last word was clear and was given by St. John Paul II and this remains. This remains," he said.

John Paul ruled out female ordination in his 1994 apostolic letter "Priestly Ordination." In the document, he declared that "the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful."

Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!